How To Wet Distress Furniture And More

    I was a small child when I remember falling in love for the first time.
    Only, unlike Ariel, it wasn't a human that caught my fancy. It was an antique.
    There, I sat, with my stunted little legs, just swinging in the seat, grazing the dingy carpet ever so slightly.
    The auctioneer's voice bounces off the walls in rhythmic cadence that only auctioneers seem to muster.
    But… There in the corner beneath the harsh lights and booming numerical cries… There it lies.
    My first love.
    It's wonderfully wooden, visibly vintage and covered in layers of paint.
    Beneath each layer is another layer.
    The finish is worn, by love and time, resulting in a perfectly distressed finish, whether intentional or not.
    I'm instantly drawn to this furniture.
    This treasure.
    It seems to be oozing with ancient wisdom.
    Every crack and every blemish, only makes me love it more.
    I think it was this moment that planted a seed in me. Perhaps this was when SeaPaints was born, But of course that would come along several years later. 
    But it was that worn finish that inspired me. Rubbed away by love like the Velveteen Rabbit. I just found something so beautiful in the way items can be loved by time. Not used. Not broken. But truly cherished. 
    Similar in the way that smile lines sneak onto our face.
    To many, it's worn and perhaps even an unwanted sign of aging. But to me, it represents all the beautiful smiles etched into our face by love over time.
    Maybe that's why I'm so drawn to the distressed finish. It reminds me so much of the beauty and wisdom contained within our wrinkles. 

     

    It was this worn, distressed look that I craved, but wasn't always easy to find. So I started to create it. Initially, I did it the typical way... with sandpaper and swearing under my breath resulting in a dusty mess that I didn't always have the spoons to deal with. 

    But somewhere along the way, SeaPaints came along and it changed the way I create...forever.

    With SeaPaints in hand, wet distressing became an option.

    Although soon, I would consider it a requirement. 

    Wet distressing is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. You paint, you wait (not long), and then you rub. The paint softly fades away to reveal the layer underneath, giving you that perfectly distressed look. Or as I prefer to call it, that worn by love look.

    If you're like me and love a good distressed piece of furniture or decor. Let me help you get that finish in record time.

    Did I mention that SeaPaints dry in three minutes? It only matters if you have almost zero free time or the attention span of a cracked out squirrel like me, but I figured I'd mention it just in case. 

    Anyhow, let's get into it. 

    What Is Wet Distressing?

    Wet distressing is a technique where you remove paint after it dries by spritzing the surface with Windex or a 50/50 water and rubbing alcohol mix, then rubbing with a cloth. You can even use just water, but it works a little faster with some umph.

    Unlike dry distressing (sanding after the paint cures), wet distressing gives you softer edges, more control, and a finish that blends rather than scratches. SeaPaints is a little different from regular paint here. You don't need to catch it while it's still tacky. The spritz reactivates the surface just enough to let you work it.

    What You'll Need

    • 2 or more SeaPaints shades in your chosen colors 
    • A clean, damp cloth or sea sponge
    • Windex (or simply a 50/50 water/ rubbing alcohol ratio)
    • A second dry cloth for blotting just in case
    • Optional: a soft-bristle brush 

    The Process

    Step 1. Apply your first coat of SeaPaints. You want full coverage but not thick. Let it sit for 5 minutes depending on your humidity and temperature. 

    Step 2. Apply the 2nd shade. Wait another 5 minutes. (perfect time to bounce between two projects at once.)

    Step 3. Once it's dry, spritz your cloth lightly with Windex or your water/alcohol mix.

    Step 4. Then take your damp cloth and start rubbing. Edges first. Corners. Raised details. Anywhere that would naturally wear over time. The paint will lift and blend back into itself, revealing the layer or wood beneath.

    Wipe away the excess with your dry cloth as you go.

    Stop when it looks right. That's the whole rule.

    Here's where I stopped, but you can stop when you love it

    FYI: THE SAME SHADES WERE USED ON THE WALL IF YOU"RE INTO THAT LOOK

    WATCH A VIDEO HERE

     

     

    TIPS

    Work in small sections. 

    Wring your cloth out well. Dripping wet will streak. Barely damp is your friend.

    Don't overthink the pattern. Focus on where real wear happen- edges and high points. 

    If you go too far, apply a thin second coat over the area, wait a few minutes, and try again. SeaPaints is forgiving like that. It's one of it's best traits. 

    The Finish

    A matte or satin topcoat will protect the finish but if you leave it unsealed, you may get the benefit of getting to your piece even more worn by love, over time.

     

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